Upon completing my CAS project Re:Soil, I’ve gotten to learn more about the different walks of life in Thailand. What I mean by this is I’ve been given the opportunity to interact with individuals from different backgrounds and lifestyles, such as partnering with an agricultural production company, working with local restaurants, and collaborating with rural farmers. This allowed me to gain more insight into ways of living that differ immensely from my own, helping me become more open-minded about the diversity of our society.

Similarly, hearing the farmers’ perspectives on our project and their understanding of it taught me a lot about the importance of educating others about sustainability practices, as they may or may not be aware of what they can do to improve the wellbeing of our environment. In this case, it helped me learn that a little goes a long way. Furthermore, I got to learn more about the importance of global issues such as climate change and how present they are in our everyday lives. Seeing these issues firsthand made me realize how much more significant they are when experienced in person, compared to simply reading about them. This realization helped me become more aware of the issues that shape our country and, likely, many others—making me more mindful of the actions I take.

Of course, this project also taught me the basics of a simple sustainable practice that I can use in the future. But more importantly, it helped me realize the value of our natural resources and their ability to be reused over and over again, giving me a new understanding of the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”—because in reality, it truly is that way. What we view as trash or waste can indeed be of importance to others, which is what this project demonstrates by recycling food waste into usable fertilizer for crops.